5 Things I Bet You Didn’t Know About Squirrels
Today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day, and who doesn't appreciate our furry little friends.
Even though we see them everyday, here are some things you probably didn't know about our furry little friends.
1-Female squirrels could be considered highly promiscuous. They mate with multiple male squirrels when they’re in heat. That leads to a mother having a litter of babies with a number of different fathers. The average litter size might be somewhere between three and five, and there could be two or more fathers amongst those kids.
2-Some species of squirrels have enormous testicles. One such is the male cape ground squirrel whose scrotum is 20 percent of its body length. Their testies are very large because the males have to produce lots of sperm to try to ensure that they are the ones that sire offspring.
3-Baby squirrels are born blind with no fur. It takes about three weeks before a baby squirrel will even open its eyes. What’s more surprising is that North American red squirrel babies can be born in the dead of winter (as early as mid-February). Females care for their babies without the help of males.
4-Squirrels are omnivores. They may be known for eating nuts and seeds, but they also prey on eggs in unattended bird nests. Flying squirrels, which are nocturnal, actually feed more on mushrooms and various types of fungi.
5-Red squirrels are highly territorial. They defend their own exclusive area with no overlap—even between the sexes. Every individual has their own piece of real estate and they advertise their ownership of that real estate by rattle calls that they give off. Even though they are asocial creatures, mother squirrels will sometimes bequeath their territory and food cache to their young.
So now you know more then you ever did about these cute rodents, thanks to Cottage Life. So go impress your family and friends and really embrace National Squirrel Appreciation Day.
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